Chennai has revived its long-pending Light House–Adyar flyover project with a revised road-side alignment, and the state highways department has floated a ₹38 lakh tender to prepare the detailed project report within two months. The proposed 4km elevated corridor will run from Light House along Santhome High Road and Greenways Road before reaching Thiru Vi Ka bridge across the Adyar river.
Senior highways officials told the Times of India that the revised project will not use a sea-link alignment or touch Marina Loop Road. Instead, the elevated corridor will be built along the road-side on the Santhome High Road stretch. The project is expected to improve movement between Kamarajar Salai, Adyar, OMR, ECR and Guindy, although officials said land acquisition may be required for about 30% of the route.
The carriageway is narrow in some sections of Santhome High Road, while the right of way beyond that stretch is considered adequate, according to officials. The DPR will establish the project’s technical requirements, alignment details and land needs before the construction plan is finalised.
Highways officials also said the coastal setting could influence the choice of construction material. Since rust formation is expected to be faster in a sea-side environment, the elevated corridor may have to be built using concrete, one official said. The decision will be examined as part of the project preparation process.
The corridor is being planned against a traffic bottleneck where vehicles take about 30 minutes to cover the 4km stretch during peak hours and around 20 minutes at other times, according to officials. During construction, traffic bound for Adyar, OMR, ECR and Guindy, as well as vehicles returning towards Kamarajar Salai, is expected to be diverted through Loop Road.
The revised design follows an earlier attempt by the previous DMK government to develop a similar link through Besant Nagar Broken Bridge. That proposal was put on hold before the elections because it required the relocation of about 3,000 fishermen families in Srinivasapuram. Officials said the current government considered that issue while selecting an alternative alignment.
The project was announced by highways minister Aadhav Arjuna and is being described by officials as the first major project of the department under the TVK government. The department has also indicated that it plans to develop elevated corridors longer than 5km elsewhere, including routes connecting Padi with Thirunindravur, Madhavaram with Sholavaram and Kilambakkam with Mahindra City. The Light House–Adyar DPR is due to be completed within two months.
